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Worry-Free Living: Is It Possible?  
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by Tom Caballes

"Leave all your worries with him, because he cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7 GNB

So How Do We Start Living A Less Anxious Life?   

1.  Trusting God is an essential part of having less worry. The way you can trust God more is by getting closer to Him. God cares for you! The more you draw close to God, the more you will be confident of His love and provision for your needs. Seek God in all things. Draw near to Him at all times, in good times and in bad.
   
2. Intercede instead of worry and be at peace. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7 ESV)
   
3. Do not let anything rob you of your peace with God. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. (Psalms 46:1-3 ESV) Worrying is a choice you make; and so is trusting in God and not being anxious. You can say no to worrying!
   
4. Be realistic with your expectations that not everything will turn out as you expect, but know that God is there with you always, and He can turn bad things into something good for those who love Him – see Romans 8:28. If you have done your best, learn from your mistakes. Learn to love imperfect people. Leave the rest to God.
   
5. Know that God has a ‘pact’ with you: He promises that He will take care of you and your needs, and you promise to follow and serve Him. Focus on doing your part. God knows His part very well. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (Matthew 6:33 ESV)
   
6. Let God be the only source of your security – not riches, not a good name, not the people you know. If your security depends on God alone, you will find that you will be less anxious about anything. Riches come and go, and so can a good name or influential friends; but God will always be there for you.
   
7. If God has secured your future by promising eternal life with Him, you have no reason to be anxious in this life. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? (Romans 8:35 ESV) Know that God has the best in store for you!
8. Be a conqueror – overcome your worries! No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:37-39 ESV)

1. So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” (Hebrews 13:6 ESV)
   
2. Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you. (Psalm 55:22A ESV)
   
3. Other Bible verses: Proverbs 3: 5-6; Isaiah 43:1-3; and Jeremiah 29:11. 

• What worries you nowadays? Is it robbing you of peace and joy, and preventing you from serving God?
• To what or whom is your sense of peace and security depended on?
  

Tom Caballes is the National Senior Administrator and a National Coordinator of the Lamb of God, a community of the Sword of the Spirit with 7 branches located throughout New Zealand. Tom also leads Kairos New Zealand, an outreach program for high school, university, and post-university aged people.  Tom and his wife Mhel and their two daughters live in Wellington, New Zealand.

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